Chef Jamie Oliver said the strategy was "worthless, regurgitated, patronising rubbish", adding: "Simply telling people what they already know - that they need to eat less and move more - is a complete cop out."

More than 60% of adults in England and a third of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight or obese.

Other pledges come from Beefeater Grill, which will promote 20% of its menu with calorie-capped meals and continue to reduce calories year on year in top-selling lines.

Kraft said it will introduce resealable packaging on chocolate brands, including Cadbury's Dairy Milk, while M&S said it will grow its range of calorie-controlled options.

Nestle said it will continue its programme of "product reformulation" and increase its support for education and training programmes in schools, colleges and at the workplace.

"The new commitments on calorie reduction complement other work retailers are doing in areas such as calorie information, salt reduction and alcohol units."

Food and Drink Federation director-general Melanie Leech said: "We welcome the approach of a menu of options, which should allow as many companies as possible to support improved public health whilst continuing to make a major contribution to the UK's economic recovery.

"A number of FDF companies are making immediate commitments to support the calorie reduction pledge and we would expect other companies from right across the food and drink industry to join them over the next few months."

Support the right choices: Diane Abbott

Shadow public health minister, Diane Abbott, said: "Time and patience is running out for Andrew Lansley and his wholly worthless responsibility deals, which have put big business in the driving seat.

"As usual, it is more about promoting the brands involved than taking real actions to support families in making the right choices about food.

"None of the promises will happen before the end of 2014. The fight against the obesity epidemic cannot wait two years. We already have the fattest children in Europe.

"The truth is that this Government has prioritised big business over British families, and we are now lumbered with these glorified corporate responsibility schemes camouflaging the fact that real change is not happening.

"The Government needs to get a grip on the basics: better food labelling, protecting children from junk food advertising, a ban on trans-fat and maintaining school food standards would be a solid start."

Professor Lindsey Davies, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: "Cutting calories from food will make a difference in our efforts to tackle the obesity crisis.

"Today's announcement is the result of a concerted effort over a long period of time by various organisations - and more companies need to sign up to this pledge if it is to deliver the benefits that are urgently needed."

She said companies should adopt the traffic light labelling system which enables quick comparisons "and is particularly useful on ready meals, cereals and processed meat that often contain unexpectedly high levels of concealed fat, sugars and salt".

"This is hugely important as the average intakes of fat, sugars and salt in the UK exceed recommended amounts," she said.

Charlie Powell, campaigns director for the Children's Food Campaign said: "It is shameful that the Department of Health is fuelling an industry game of smoke and mirrors instead of demanding enforceable actions to reduce calorie content.

"Without an end to junk food marketing promotions, these token gestures become totally irrelevant.

"We note that the calorie reduction examples only cover small proportions of companies' products and that big names such as McDonald's, Burger King and KFC are conspicuously missing.

"New ranges are all very well, but every food company should commit to permanently reducing calories across the all their products."

Companies that support the Government's responsibility deal but were not listed as backing today's calorie pledge included McCain, Pizza Hut, United Biscuits, Wimpy, McDonald's, KFC and Burger King.